Cora Brown is pastor at Church Without Walls in Elkhart, Ind., and executive director of Emerge Ministries, a homeless prevention program. She serves on the board of Mennonite Women USA and the board of the African-American Mennonite Association. She has served as a member of the gifts discernment team of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference and as a board member of Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes.

Do or did you have a woman leader as a mentor?

I have several mentors in Elkhart County. They include pastor Jennifer Tinsley of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Nancy Rodriguez-Lora of True Vine Tabernacle, and Suella Gerber of Fellowship of Hope Mennonite Church. We talk regularly and pray together. These women help me stay focused and listen to the voice of God. I also have several male pastors who mentor me.

Are you mentoring a young woman who may be a potential church leader?

I mentor a lot of women through my church and Emerge Ministries. Many of them want to be teachers. At least one of them is looking to become a pastor. I meet with them weekly through Bible studies and one-on-one meetings.

How are their experiences the same or different from yours?

Their experiences are totally different from mine. For example, they are more interested in teaching within the church through Sunday school and Bible studies. I am more interested in peer-to-peer activities and outreach.

What impediments have you faced in becoming a leader?

I’ve faced many challenges. For one, not all denominations accept women leaders. That’s changing over the years, but it was a significant obstacle in the beginning. Also, while co-pastoring with my husband has its benefits, it also carries challenges for him and me. For example, people may favor one of us over the other. We’re working at it slowly. I need to be myself, and he needs to be himself.

When you face challenges as leader, what encourages you?

Other pastors, definitely. We have an Elkhart area pastors group in which we support each other. Since God called me to do outreach, I often feel overwhelmed. When I feel stressed and don’t know which way to go, they encourage me and offer me the things I need to continue to do the work of God. They send me helpful words and listen to my prayer requests. I am also blessed to have a husband in the ministry who knows when I need a vacation and he willingly provides them.